Can-opener.



No. 689,846. Patented Dec. 3|, 1901.

J. BEAUCHEMIN.

DAN OPENER.

(Application filed May 20, 1901.)

(No Model.)

vnzns 50.. PMOYO-LITMD.. WASHINGYON D c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OF E.

JOSEPH BEAU CHEMIN, OF WATERLOO, CANADA.

CAN-OPENER.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 689,846, dated December 31, 1901.

Application filed May 20, 1901- Serial No. 61,056. I (No modell) To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOSEPH BEAUCHEMIN, a subject of His Majesty the King of Great Britain, residing at Waterloo, county of Shefford, Province of Quebec, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Can-Openers; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in can-openers; and the object in view is the provision of a simple construction which is capable of operating very easily for quickly cutting off the lid or top close to the edge of the can, the improved implement consisting of a very few parts, each simple in construction and susceptible of manufacture at a small cost.

With these ends in view the invention consists in the novel construction and arrange-- ment of parts which will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the drawings hereto annexed, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a can-opener embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a plan view, and Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the cuttor-bar.

The same numerals of reference denote like parts in each figure of the drawings.

5 designates the handle-bar or body of my improved implement, the same being provided at one end with a socket 6, in which is inserted the pointed spur or prong 7, which is adapted to form a puncture in the top or other portion of the can about to be opened. Said handle-bar has its opposite end curved to form the shank 8, and the extremity of this shank is extended in a straight line and is forked or bifurcated by the provision of a slot or recess 9, whereby said extended portion of the shank is adapted to form the substantially parallel jaws 10. The curved shank of the handle-bar or body is reinforced by the provision of the longitudinal ribs 11, which project laterally from the opposite sides of the curved shank and which begin at the handle-bar and terminate at the jaws.

12 designates the cutter-bar, which is reduced in width at one end, so as to form the blade or knife 13, the latter having the sharpened edges 13 at the sides thereof. This cutter-bar is arranged in the slotted or recessed portion 9 of the curved shank, and

said cutter-bar is pivoted or fulcrumed at a point just in rear of the blade 13 thereof 13 by means of a pin or bolt 14, the same passing through the bifurcated part of the shank and through the cutter-bar. To the rear end or heel of the cutter-bar are pivoted at 15 the lower ends of the pair of parallel links 16, the upper endsof which are pivoted at 17 to the short arm of an operating-lever 18. The handle-bar or body is provided at a point intermediate of its length with the depending lugs 19, between which is arranged said operatinglever 18, the latter being fulcrumed by the pin or bolt 20, which passes through the depending lugs and through the operating-lever. The operating-lever is normally pressed to a position wherein the cutter-bar is opened by means of a spring 21, the latter being preferably of the leaf variety shown by the drawings and having one end secured to the handle-bar or body by the screw or rivet 22. The free end of this spring is bent or curved, as at 23, so as to lie between the depending lugs and to press against the operating-lever, whereby the latter is normally held in a position shown by Figs. 1 and 2, and the lugs restrain the curved end of the spring from accidental displacement relative to the operating-lever.

In using the implement the spur or prong is first thrust through the top or side of a can which is to be opened in order to produce a puncture therein. The implement isnow reversed, so as to bring the jaws in a position to rest upon the can and to make the blade of the cutter-bar pass through the puncture which was produced in the can by I the spur. The operator now grasps the handle-bar and the lever, so as to exert pressure on the latter and draw its long arm toward the handle-bar, thereby moving the cutter-bar on its pivot and closing the blade between the jaws. This operation causes the jaws and the blade to cooperate in the work of severing the metal, and the operator now releases the lever, which is returned to normal position by the action of the spring. The cut- ICO ter-bar having been moved to its open position, the operator presses the implement forward and again exerts pressure on theoperating-lever, thus repeating the operation of cutting the can.

Changes within the scope of the appended claims may be made in theforin and proportion'of some of the parts, While their essential features are retained and the spirit of the invention is embodied. Hence I do not desire to be limited to the precise form of all the parts as shown, reserving the right to vary therefrom.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is- 1. A can-opener comprising a handle-bar having a bifurcated shank forming the jaws, a lever fulcrumed on the handle-bar, a cutter-bar pivoted in the bifurcated shank and provided with a blade' which is disposed in cooperative relation to the jaws, and links connecting the cutter-bar and the operatinglever, substantially as described.

2. A can-opener comprising a handle-bar having the curved bifurcated shank forming the jaws at one end, a spur or prong secured firmly to the other end of said handle-bar, a lever fulcrumed at a point intermediate of itslength on the handle-bar, and a cutter-bar pivoted in the forked shank to have cooperative relation to the jaws and connected at its heel to the short arm of the operating-lever, substantially as described.

3. A can-opener comprising a handle-bar having a curved shank which is bifurcated to form the jaws, an operating-lever fulcruined on the handle-bar, a cutter-barpivoted in the forked shank and having a blade arranged to cooperate with the jaws, links connecting the heel of the cutter-bar and a short arm of the lever,and a springattached to the handle-bar and seated against the operating-lever, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH BEAUCHEMIN.

\Vitnesses:

O. E. CARREAN, O. E. HARVEY. 

